Dixon Sets Illinois Single-Season Touchdown Record

Senior receiver Collin Dixon caught two touchdowns as Illinois beat Nebraska 24-13.

Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Football

Dixon Sets Illinois Single-Season Touchdown Record

Collin Dixon set Illinois' single-season touchdown record with 12 scores, including two in a 24-13 win over Nebraska. The mark breaks a tie among four previous Illini receivers who had recorded 10 touchdowns.

Why it matters

The record establishes Dixon as the program's most productive touchdown receiver in a single season and reflects a sharp rise in Illinois' passing game. For Champaign fans, it marks a milestone for the senior from Smith Center's home team.

Dixon has 68 catches for 910 yards and 12 touchdowns this season, after catching eight passes for 129 yards against Nebraska. He scored seven touchdowns in Illinois' first three games, though he was held out of the end zone at Ohio State and Maryland.

The players

Collin Dixon

A senior wide receiver for the Illinois Fighting Illini who redshirted in 2023 before becoming one of the program's leading pass-catchers.

The details

Dixon, a 6-foot-1, 215-pound senior who redshirted in 2023, lined up in an H-back position and broke to the right side of the field on the snap for one of his scores. A review confirmed his 11th touchdown of the season, and his 12th came in the win over Nebraska.

2023: Dixon redshirted.
Two weeks before the Nebraska game: Dixon caught his 10th touchdown against Oregon.
Late September: Dixon was held out of the end zone at Ohio State.
Friday: Illinois defeated Nebraska 24-13, and Dixon set the record.

Season Trajectory

Dixon's 12 touchdowns surpass a four-way tie at 10 that had stood as Illinois' single-season benchmark. The record reflects a passing offense that has leaned heavily on him through the first nine games of the season.

Dixon's 12 touchdowns give fantasy managers a major scoring threat for the remaining games. The record also means Illinois' offense now relies on a proven red-zone target.

The takeaway

Dixon's record shows how a receiver's development across multiple seasons can reshape a program's offensive profile. Fans tracking Illinois football can follow his production as the season continues.